Referee Mark Clattenburg is probably the highest profile of the 'villains' in recent times.

Not only did he controversially send off Chelsea forward Fernando Torres for a questionable dive in the match against Manchester United on October 28, he also became the subject of an investigation by the English FA for an alleged racist comment to Chelsea's Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel during the same match.

Late last week the FA found Clattenburg had no case to answer, effectively clearing him of any wrong doing.

Closer to home, referee Jarred Gillett has been involved in a couple of controversial and match-defining decisions that won him few fans.

The first was in the A-League season decider involving the Brisbane Road and the Perth Glory.

Gillett awarded the Queensland side a penalty in the dying stages of the match when it appeared Roar striker Besart Berisha had barely been touched by Glory midfielder Liam Miller.

Gillett was just 25 at the time and copped a lot of stick because he was in a relationship with a woman who worked for the Roar and there was an issue of perceived bias.

This season he was at the centre of more controversy when he sent off Wellington Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund for impeding the run of Adelaide United striker Jeronimo Neumann.

At first glance, and in real time, I was sold that Gillett had made the right decision, but slow motion replays showed any contact between the players was minimal.

Sigmund appealed against his suspension but Gillett's decision was upheld by the Match Review Panel.

More recently, Adelaide United's match against Sydney FC at the weekend featured a number of questionable decisions by the assistant referee.

Most notably, he flagged for offside as Adelaide's Marcello Carrusca combined on the edge of the area with Neumann, then slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Replays showed he was clearly onside and his goal should have counted.

It didn't necessarily cost the match but the goal would have seen United take an early lead and a more comfortable victory.

Better training?

In a recent survey a number of high-profile European managers, including Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and Paris St Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti, called for a state-of-the-art training centre for match officials.

The coaching group suggested a professional academy would rid the game of refereeing controversies and improve standards.

In Australia, Football Federation Australia has a Director of Referees and a Referees Department.

A National Referees Technical Committee also exists, and the group has set up a strategic plan which provides a path for referees to progress from state leagues into the A-League and upwards to international level.

While it seems the FFA is on the right track to getting the best and brightest onto the field, we keep seeing questionable decisions by match officials.

I must admit I'm the first to say the referee has had a good match if you don't see or hear him or her.

In other words, if there's no controversy and the referee isn't interrupting the flow of play with needless adjudication, then he or she is doing a great job.

I'll also admit I've been one to argue with a referee, even though I know it won't change his or her decision, and I've also unfairly blamed referees for a poor result.

What we all need to realise is that referees are humans too and we all make mistakes.

The majority of their decisions are spot on, but we choose to emphasise and be critical of those few errors, perceived or real, that occur against our team.

Few people complain when a wrong decision goes their way.

Player training

I feel all players who reach a professional or semi-professional level should be forced to do a refereeing course, to get an understanding of just how hard it is to always be the bad guy.

The idea came from a good friend of mine, but has probably been around for a while.

Take for example the television show "Go Back to Where You Came From".

The popular documentary series put prominent Australians who either had outspoken views on refugees and asylum seekers or some other connection to the issue in the shoes of those at the centre of the debate.

I'm not suggesting we send footballers to other countries where the standard of refereeing is poorer - although that would be a novel idea and would certainly make players appreciate the quality of officiating in Australia.

The point I'm making is that if players were to try their hand at refereeing, they'd realise just how hard it is.

They'd appreciate those that have the guts to cop criticism from players, managers, supporters and the media - and they'd certainly think twice about arguing the next time a decision doesn't go in their favour.

The National Youth League would be the perfect opportunity to get to players while they're young, and equip them with an understanding of what it is like to be a referee.

It should also be the case that coaches who undertake a coaching licence should be subject to similar referee training.

There has been a real push for goal-line technology and a video review system for questionable decisions.

In my opinion these will only slow the game and take away from its excitement and unpredictability.

Controversial incidents will often occur in a football match and controversial decisions will happen.

But, if we keep questioning referees and putting their mistakes in the spotlight, fewer people will see the job as an attractive career and the number of promising referees will drop.

You don't have to go hug a referee, or even agree with all of his or her decisions - just understand the difficult job they do and respect them for having the guts to do it.